O Ballader!
Embroider the caper
Of the stellar
For a wonder.
(Quatrain 145)
The respected Editor of that excellent Indian English
International literary Journal, Kohinoor, Dr. Arbind Kumar Choudhary , has long
been a celebrated luminary within India’s bourgeoning poetry scene, and has
subsequently been making manifold contribution of his works to numerous prominent
poetry societies and publishing outlets abroad, over the years, having the
distinction of his poems being published as far a field as England , Greece ,
Malta , Mongolia and Cyprus respectively. Within the educational field he has
also taken a leading role, with a demanding mantle of responsibility, for he
heads the Deptt. of English at a well established college in Majuli (Assam). It
hardly remains for me to pertinently observe that A.K.C. has an extensive
knowledge of vocabulary , giving prodigious greater depth to his literary
output, a circumstance that even had this reviewer reaching for his dictionary
on occasions.
This exemplary collection, a virtual treasure chest of some
210 vibrant quatrains, inspired entirely by a poet’s all-embracing love of the
Natural world, gives spontaneous mainspring to seasonal change and effects
topographical detail, the charm of flora and fauna within his familiar
environs, and all many other simple glories:
Spring is the golden fire
Of natural caricature
That is the score
Of the parterre.
(Quatrain 2)
Many of A.K. Choudhary’s poems are couched in
characteristically authoritative expression which has delightful didactic
appeal, as passion of forethought reaches assurity of positive pronouncement:
The pinion of permutation
Is the ruling passion
For the perdition
Of the aberration.
(Quatrain 77)
Like countless other writers of a particularly romantic
disposition, it can clearly be seen that here is a poet who cannotes essential
parallels between the colours and alluring fragrance of a beautiful flower and
the intoxicating charm of a lady so prominently figured in an affair of the
heart :
The savour of the larkspur
Stirs the harbour
Of affaire d’amour
For the raconteur.
(Quatrain 149)
And a keen interest in areas of botanical attraction is
patently evident as various species of wild flowers are intermittently
represented and named in several of his choicest quatrains :
The privet thicket
Is the bracelet
For the florescent
Of Saint John’s Wort.
(Quatrain 93)
In his lucid PREFACE to this fascinating collection, Dr.
Choudhary tells us ‘Every natural object is a manifestations of the spirit,
beauty and love’ , and he further states that he derives the greatest pleasure
from the music of nature from its beautiful colours and its sweet fragrance :
The melody of the fife
Is the lovely strife
Like the love life
Of the tophy wife.
(Quatrain 52)
Further references to this poet’s comments on the musical
aspects of our natural world, far away from the noise and hustle and bustle of
city life, is to be found in quatrain no. 131, a spiritually contained poem of
profound significance . Again, here we have the didactic pronouncement of poet
and teacher :
To metrify the musicology
Of the ecology
Is the doxology
Of the clergy.
(Quatrain 131)
For an entirely dramatic and most effective conclusion to
this unique collection of quatrains what could have provided a more fitting
finale than this worthy tail - end offering of verse ?
The lightning thunder
Works wonder
For the provender
Of the ballader.
(Quatrain 210)
It is certainly good to observe that the English quatrain is
alive and well – and ,in fact , positively thriving, in the informed poetry
circles of India’s vast sub-continent. Dr. Choudhary’s collection has been
further enhanced by the decidedly empathetic introduction provided by the
ubiquitous Austrian poet Dr. Kurt .F. Svatek – I wish the poet /author every
success with the promotion of this absorbing literary venture.
Name of the Anthology: NATURE (2011)
Poet: Arbind Kumar Choudhary
Publication: Poetcrit Publications, Maranda ,H.P. – 176102,
India
Price : Rs. 99, U.S. $ 6
Reviewer: Bernard.M.Jackson,12,Selborne Garden, Jesmond, New
Castle upon Tyne,
NE2 1 EY ,England.
Reviewer's Bio: Bernard M. Jackson, poet and reviewer, is based in England.
Bernard has six poetry collections to his credit.
Author's Bio: Dr. Arbind Kumar Choudhary is a poet. Till date he has published a good number poetry collections including Love, Nature and The Poet and his poems have been included in many anthologies. He is Editor with Kohinoor and Ayush.
Fair review by the established poet.Congrats.Prof S.C.Dwivedi
ReplyDeleteExcellent review.With bright wishes.Prof Lalitesh Mishra
ReplyDeleteExceptionally reviewed by Jackson.Excellent sir. Dr Sunil Chandra Mishra.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good review of a famous Indian poet. Vimal Kumar
ReplyDeleteExcellent review.Congrats.Rudra Kant
ReplyDeleteGood achievement.thanks. Dr Shamim
ReplyDeleteA great nature poet.Thanks.Dr Naval Singh
ReplyDeleteGreat nature poet from N.E.India.Pravin
ReplyDelete